A need arises right in front of us, what do we do?  What is our first thought? Do we lend a hand to help them up or do we first look around and see if others can help?  Is giving aid to those in need a group effort or a personal response?  Do we give from obedience to rules or because of our intimate relationship with God/Jesus/Holy Spirit who gives because He loves us—and we want to be like Him?

Do we give because the speaker was gifted in story telling which led us to help or did God guide us to give from what He has given to us?  What prompts our enthusiasm to live a life that helps, serves, loves, and gives as a first response?  Paul is helpful as he counsels the Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 9, The Message

^1-2 If I wrote any more on this relief offering for the poor Christians, I’d be repeating myself. I know you’re on board and ready to go. I’ve been bragging about you all through Macedonia province, telling them, “Achaia province has been ready to go on this since last year.” Your enthusiasm by now has spread to most of them.

^3-5 Now I’m sending the brothers to make sure you’re ready, as I said you would be, so my bragging won’t turn out to be just so much hot air. If some Macedonians and I happened to drop in on you and found you weren’t prepared, we’d all be pretty red-faced—you and us—for acting so sure of ourselves. So to make sure there will be no slipup, I’ve recruited these brothers as an advance team to get you and your promised offering all ready before I get there. I want you to have all the time you need to make this offering in your own way. I don’t want anything forced or hurried at the last minute.

^6-7 Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.

^8-11 God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,

He throws caution to the winds,
    giving to the needy in reckless abandon.
His right-living, right-giving ways
    never run out, never wear out.

This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

^12-15 Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God. This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they’ll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need. Thank God for this gift, his gift. No language can praise it enough!

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

While believers in Jesus must not compete with each other in their service for Christ, we are taught to “stir the pot” of the enthusiastic service to God so to speak.  Hebrews 10:23-24 is often used to remind people to go the church but it is more about our growing an infectious enthusiasm for glorifying God by helping each other!  “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Many people serve Jesus by helping others find Jesus weekly in today’s churches.  Authentic servants of Jesus enthusiastically work to establish an environment of loving acceptance with caring compassion that is seen, heard, and felt by all who come to worship and learn more about God—all for God who saves and redeems us through His Son, Jesus! 

Henry Blackaby, Pastor, Author of “Experiencing God,” encourages believers to seek God first, see where He is already at work.  Ask God what He wants from us.  Then listen for the invitation from God.  Our response is to JOIN HIM in His work.  All we are and all we do is orchestrated by God.  Our lives will need never be the same as we realign our desires and lifestyle to match God’s desires for His best in and through us.

Our first response to God when He asks to help or give to others should be an enthusiastic but humbled YES just for being invited to HIS work!  “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” –Paul writes to the Colossians.  (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV)

Paul is a cheerleader of enthusiasm!  “Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people,” he writes to the church at Ephesus!  (Ephesians 6:7, NLT)

When we see what God is doing in and through the lives of others, we ought to strive to serve Him better ourselves. This comes with a warning label:  There is a fine line between fleshly imitation and spiritual emulation. We must be careful to serve God with grateful hearts, not wanting to be like someone else but to be like Christ who gave His all to us! 

An enthusiastic believer in Jesus can be a positive influencer in stirring up a church to listen to God’s invitation while motivating people to pray more, work with enthusiasm, witness with integrity, and give from what God has given us.  Where God guides, He provides.  He always has and always will.  Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

Lord,

We are learning much from Paul’s giving of himself to You first and then to those who are believing and growing in your love and service.  Cleanse our hearts and pour into us all you created us to be.  Renew our minds and transform our behavioral responses.  I’m listening!  I’m yours!  Yes!

In Jesus Name, Amen